Card reference and posting file



March 21, 1961 T. E. DEVINE 2,976,097

CARD REFERENCE AND POSTING FILE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet lEre/7C6 E. Devi/7e INVENTOR.

March 21, 1961 T. E. DEVINE 2,976,097

CARD REFERENCE AND POSTING FILE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 as32 26 a 84 92 9 I/awz 7renceEDeL/7/7e.

G 2 INVENTOR. ii/9.5 L, .L $826M wen/21174 March 21, 1961 T. E. DEVINECARD REFERENCE AND POSTING FILE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1958INVENTOR.

Terence E. Devi/7e March 21, 1961 T. E. DEVINE CARD REFERENCE ANDPOSTING FILE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27. 1958 MR. M m 6 e CARDREFERENCE AND POSTING FILE Terence E. Devine, 506 Pennwood Drive,Pittsburgh 35, Pa.

Filed Aug. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 757,573

16 Claims. (Cl. 312-l8'4) This invention relates to a novel filingsystem and more particularly is directed to a novel card reference andposting file which may be incorporated in a desk or other similar ofiicefurniture.

Because of the keen competition for profit and the current taxstructure, the operation of modern business facilities requires thekeeping of a large amount of records. Vast amounts of money are spent inkeeping a substantial clerical force in operation to meet the demand forrecorded information. In view of these facts, it is imperative that thefiling and retrieval systems be simple and efiicient in avoiding wastedmotion particularly in posting operations which are often repeated timeand time again. The present invention provides such a file arrangementwhich may be incorporated in a conventional ofiice desk. When files areto be referred to, the operator merely pushes back the top of the deskand exposes a semi-vertical card file. The operator sits in a naturalworking position and all the information is directly in front of him,visible and in easy reach with no movement of the body.

The novel card file of the present invention provides an arrangementwherein the cards are at a convenient level and easy to read and postwithout the necessity of shifting toward the information or moving thedata to a separate side table. Thus, fatigue and boredom are reduced toa minimum and fast, efiicient and money saving card filing is provided.The file operates with a maximum card capacity in a minimum of space,requiring for example, less than 9 square feet in desk form with acapacity of over 5,000 standard file cards. The file is inexpensive tomanufacture having light weight and simplicity of design and insurestrouble-free operation with a minimum of moving parts. The cards aremaintained within the desk and out of sight when not in use adding tothe efe a ppeal of the file arrangement. A desk file arrangementaccording to the present invention provides increased mobility and isreadily protected from fire because of its small size and compact area.The device is durable and easy to operate with a mass of informationreadily visible at fingertip distance reducing clerical errors to aminimum.

While a large number of file card devices are commercially available,none possesses all of the advantages of the file of the presentinvention. Presently available systems consistently excel in some fewbasic features with attendant advantages but uniformly are inadequate inproviding even several of the basic features necessary to a trulysatisfactory index file.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved card filein which the recorded information is readily available to an operatorfor reference and/or posting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a card referenceand posting file for reducing fatigue and boredom to a minimum.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcard file permitting increased speed and efficiency of operation.

nited States Patent Another object of the present invention is toprovide an economical card file having maximum card capacity andflexibility in a minimum of space.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a card filein which the file cards are hidden from sight when out of use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved cardfile of light weight and simple design having increased eye appeal anddurability with a mass of file information readily available.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedcard file having increased mobility which may be more easily protectedagainst loss from fire.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings inwhich;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel card file of the presentinvention incorporated in a conventional ofiice desk;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1showing the construction of one side of the card tray receptacle;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the lines 33 of Figure 1 showing theother side of the card tray receptacle;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the center support shown inFigures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 shows a detailed view on cross-section of the hinge arrangementfor the displaceable desk top;

Figure 6 is a cross-section of the hinge arrangement of Figure 5 asviewed from the front of the desk;

Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper left-handportion of the receptacle and horizontal guide channel as viewed fromthe front of the desk shown in Figure l; I

Figure 8 is a similar partial cross-section of the upper right-handportion of the receptacle of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an enlarged partially broken away perspective view of theupper left-hand portion of the receptacle shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged partially broken away perspective view of theupper right-hand portion of the receptacle shown in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an auxiliary-guide channel in thewriting surface of the desk taken along the lines l11l of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the auxiliary guide channel of Figure 11showing it in communication with the lefthand horizontal guide channelof the card tray receptacle;

Figure 13 shows in cross-section a modified embodiment of the card trayreceptacle in the form of a central drawer constructed so as to becompletely removable from the desk.

Figure 14 shows one end of a typical novel card tray employed in thepresent invention; and

Figure 15 is a side view of the card tray of Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a conventional desk Itincorporating the novel card file of the present invention adapted to becompletely enclosed in a central receptacle l2. Receptacle 12 may beconstructed as an integral part of the desk 1% or may take the form of aremovable sliding drawer as shown in detail in Figure l3 and describedbelow. The desk top 10' is supported by the usual legs 14 which mayinclude conven tional casters for moving the entire desk and enclosedcard file about to any desired position. Desk 10 may also include aplurality of drawers indicated at 16 and a typewriter cabinet 18. Thetypewriter cabinet and drawers are provided with suitable handles 20 forready access to the material contained within the desk.

Receptacle 12 which, as pointed out, may be completely removable fromdesk 10 as a separate unit, houses a plurality of novel card file traysindicated as the front and rear set of trays 22 and 24. Positionedapproximately midway of receptacle 12 is a central transverse supportingbar 26. The forward or front set of card file trays 22 is positioned atan angle with respect to the vertical so that all the trays in this setlean away from the operator toward centrally placed bar 26. In otherwords the lowermost portion of each tray 22 in its rest position in thefile receptacle 12 is closer to the observer than the uppermost edge ofeach respective tray.

As shown, a plurality of conventional file cards 25 are mounted on thefront face of each of the trays 22 in overlapping relation. The filecards 25 are posted from left to right for ready access and ease ofhandling by an operator.

The rear set of card trays 24 are placed at a similar angle with respectto the vertical and lean toward the operator. That is, card trays 24 arepositioned so that the lowermost portion of each tray is further fromthe observer than the upper edge of the respective tray. Trays 24 carryidentical file cards which are placed on the surface of each tray 24facing away from the operator which will be referred to as the backsurface of the tray.

Each tray is restrained against movement about a horizontal axis withinthe drawer as more fully described below, and is retained by pivot pinsin individual spaced angular channels or raceways provided on the innersurface of each side of receptacle 12. The right hand set of raceways,the upper portions of which are shown in Figure 1, include a first set30 for each of the forward group of card trays 22 and a second set 32for the back group of card trays 24. Each of the card trays in sets 22and 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending index tab 34 on theupper edge thereof as shown in Figures 14 and which provide grippingedges so that each tray may be easily lifted and removed from thereceptacle. Individual trays such as shown at 36 and 38 may be readilylifted from the inclined position and held in a substantially verticalposition partially removed from the drawer by the operator. In this way,it is extremely easy for an operator to ascertain the materialincorporated upon a single tray by a simple lifting movement of thehand. If so desired, the trays may be completely lifted from the drawerand laid flat over the remaining trays as indicated by individual tray40 or alternatively a tray may be rested on central support 26 inconjunction with the upper edges of the remaining stacked trays. Thefront trays 22 are removed from the receptacle and laid fiat with theback surface down and with the file cards 25 exposed to the operator fornotation or posting. Similarly, a rear tray from the group 24 is drawnfrom receptacle 12 toward the operator and laid flat with its frontsurface facing down. Since file cards 25 are positioned along the backsurface of trays 24 they face upwardly and are also readily available.

When an individual tray is lifted from the receptacle 12 and placed infiat position as illustrated for example at 40, the right-hand end ofthe tray is completely free from its associated raceway 30 or 32 and isfree to swing in any direction. As will be more fully described below,the left hand end of the tray passes into a horizontal guide channel andmay be translated away from or toward the operator in the plane of thetop surface of the desk. If desired a slight pivoting of the card trayacts to disengage the left hand edge of the tray from the horizontalguide channel so that the tray may be completely free from the deskstructure and can be carried about a room or to other ofiices. Theaforementioned horizontal channel communicates with an auxiliary channel42 built into the writing surface of the desk. As shown in the drawing,a tray may be translated along the horizontal guide channel from aposition such as is shown at 40 into the auxiliary channel 42 andpivoted so as to lay on the top of the desk in convenient writingposition as indicated by the single tray 44. When it is no longerdesired to use a tray, it may be returned along channel 42 to theleft-hand horizontal channel in receptacle 12 and moved therealong untilit reaches its cooperating slanting raceways on each side of receptacle12. The tray is simply and easily reinserted in the cooperating racewaysfor return to its initial rest position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1showing the construction of the inside surface of the left-hand side ofreceptacle 12 including a receptacle side panel member 54. Some of thedetail forming the upper end of the raceways is omitted to avoidconfusion. A bottom plate 58 of the receptacle rests on three supportchannels 80. Also shown is a front panel 82 and a rear receptacle panel84. The file receptacle is closed by means of a hinged or pivoted desktop 86. Receptacle 12 comprises front and rear sections 88 and 90 withthe central support member 26 securely fastened at each end between apair of center support members or ribs 91 and 92. The inner side wall offorward section 88 includes a series of slanted or angled raceways 94which as shown inthe drawing extend upwardly from the bottom to the topof the receptacle at an angle of approximately 30 with the vertical.Raceways 94 angle toward the back wall of the receptacle so that thecard trays adapted to be supported therein lean away from an operatorseated at the front of the desk. Similarly, the rearward portion 90 ofreceptacle 12 includes a series of raceways 96 also forming an angle ofapproximately 30 with a vertical and extending toward the front panel 82of the receptacle. Raceways 94 and 96 extend in spaced relation adjacentto one another and have a generally semi-cylindrical configuration forretaining the ballhead of a pivot pin or extension arm afiixed to thecard trays and adapted to be slidingly received within the raceways.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l with detailomitted and shows the arrangement of the inside surface of theright-hand side of receptacle 12 including a side panel 56.

Front and back portions 88 and 90 respectively include a series ofslanting or angled raceways 30 and 32 partly shown in Figure 1. Each ofraceways 30 are aligned with corresponding raceways 94 in Figure 2 andcooperate with raceways 94 to provide end guides for the card trays inthe front portion 88 of the drawer. Similarly, individual ones ofraceways 32 and 96 are aligned to receive in sliding engagement the endportions of the card trays positioned in rear section 90 of thereceptacle.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of one of the identical end supportingarrangements for center support bar 26. Member 26 at each end is adaptedto be rigidly positioned between a pair of center support and side 55panel reinforcing ribs 91 and 92 carried by side panels 54 and 56 andmay be secured to the ribs by any suitable fastening means (not shown).In the position indicated the middle portion 27 of center support 26shown in section in cooperation with the upper edges of the stackedtrays acts as a rigid support upon which the card trays may be placed ina fiat position substantially in the plane of the top surface of thedesk.

Figures 5 and 6 show side and front sectional views respectively of thehinge arrangement for the displaceable top member 86 adapted to be movedcompletely out of the way when not used to cover file receptacle 12.Afiixed to a flange portion 89 of desk top 86 is a guide channel 100receiving a guide pin 102 fixedly received in one end of a pivot arm104. The other end of pivot arm 104 is apertured to receive a pivot pin106 riveted to the side panel 54 as shown at 108. An end panel 84includes an aperture 110 in the form of an elongated slot permittingrotation of pivot arm 104about pivot pin 106. As shown in Figure 5, top86 is constructed to rotate about pin 106 into the vertical positionindicated by the dotted line in the drawing. 'In this position channelportion 112 of top 86 is in abutment with the back surface of end panel84. This latter abutment limits the pivoting motion of the disk 86. Whenthe top 86 reaches a vertical position, a light touch is sufiicient tocause the top to slide vertically downward along the back surface of endpanel 84 being guided by the engagement of'guide pin 102 in guidechannel 100. Top 86 can in this manner he moved to the position shown inigure 1 in which it is completely out of the way and occupies little orno additional space. I

Figure 7 shows an enlarged cross sectional view of a single raceway andthe horizontal guide channel on the left-hand side of the receptacle 12shown in Figure l. Member 52 forming the left-hand upper writing surfaceof the desk terminates in a generally U-shaped section 120 and includesan overhang 122 jutting out a short distance into the interior of thefile receptacle. A lower flange 124 is securely afixed to side panel 54.Also shown is a card tray 126 having adjoined to its lower left-handedge by any suitable means such as brazing or welding a pivot pin 128terminating in a small circular ball 138. Ball 130 is adapted to slidevertically in a single raceway 132 two groups or sets of which are shownat 94 and 96 in Figure 2, and upon reaching the top of raceway 132passes between the upper edges of the raceway, one edge being indicatedat 129, slightly to the left to the position shown in Figure 7, into therecess defined by channel portion 120 of member 52. The position of ball130 is also shown in perspective in Figure 9.

In passing out of raceway 132 ball 130 impinges upon a solid member 134forming the back wall of the raceway. The upper surface of solid member134 includes a recess 138 forming a longitudinal continuous horizontalchannel in which ball 130 rests. Member 134 forming the back wall of theraceway and the raceway itself may be formed of metal or if desired fromhard rubber or a suitable plastic to provide the desired bearing andwear resistant surface for ball 130. A plurality of thin separatingplates in the form of extension members 127 are provided between eachraceway to separate each tray and to support one end of the tray inupright position to avoid tilting of the trays.

Figures 8 and show enlarged views of the arrangement of the raceways 32and 30 incorporated in the right-hand panel 56 of Figure 3. A secondpivot pin 138 is attached to the lower right hand corner of card tray126 and terminates in a second ball portion 140. Member 52 forming thewritting surface of the desk includes a flange portion 142 aflixed toright-hand panel 56 which carries a plurality of raceways one of whichis shown at 144. Raceway 144 includes a projecting flat extension platesimilar in purpose to plate 127 of Figure 7 which extends beyondthemouth of the raceway toward the central portion of the receptacle.Plates 127 and 146 each must extend inwardly beyond the edges of thetrays and between each raceway to provide a support upon which the trayslean. Each of the plates 146 includes a fiat top surface 148 and arecessed portion 150 which cooperate with the slanted upper surface 152to provide a recess for the ball 140. In Figures 9 and 10 only threeplates 127 and four complete plates 146 are shown but it will beunderstood that a proper plate is fixed to the receptacle between eachraceway so that each tray may be supported at its left end by a plate127 and at its right end by a plate 146.

As can be seen from Figures 7-10 each of the card trays is provided withan integral pivot or rod at its outer edge adjacent the bottom of thetray as shown at 128 and 138. The pins may be welded as indicated at 136and 13? or otherwise secured to each tray. In the preferred embodimentpins 128 and 138 terminating in ball portions 130 and 146 lie slightlyout of the plane of the tray 126 as bestiseen in Figure 15 and form anangle of approximately 150 with lower edge of the tray.

Since trays 126 rest in the desk and are normally Withdrawn at an angleto the vertical each raceway is necessarily not symmetrical about avertical plane through the center thereof but as shown in the drawingsfaces slightly toward the direction in which the tray retained in. theparticular raceway leans. This is best seen for example in Figure 9 inwhich the individual raceways 132 are shown with the open portionsthereof slightly angled in the direction of tray 126. In this wayraceways 132 accommodate the slight angle at which the pivot pin 128projects from tray 126 as the tray is moved up and down within thereceptacle. Each of the raceways 144 as indicated in Figure 10 issimilarly constructed to face slightly in the direction of tray 126 ofFigure 10.

In operation as trays 126 are lifted ball members 130 and 149 arepropelled along their cooperating raceways until each ball member clearsthe top of the raceway. The tray may be then moved slightly to the leftto the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this position ball member130 rests in groove or recess 138 and can be further translatedhorizontally therealong to auxiliary channel 42 shown in Figure 1. Inaddition, if so desired, a slight twisting of a tray 126 serves toretate pivot pin 128 shown in Figure 7 into a position such that ballmember 130 will clear overhang 122 and the tray in this way can becompletely removed from the desk.

As shown in Figures 8 and 10 the right hand ball member 140 in clearingraceway 144 moves to the left in Figure 8 along surface 152 into therecess formed in member 146 positioned adjacent the raceway. The righthand end of the tray is freely supported and may be moved about at will.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of the auxiliary channel 42 takenalong the line 1111 of Figure 1. Figure 12 shows a plan view ofauxiliary channel 42 and indicates its communicationwith the horizontalguide channel formed by recess 138 in member 134 in the upper leftportion of receptacle 12. Secured to the under surface of desk cover 52is a channel member having an elongated recess portion 162. Positionedon the inner surface of each side of recessed portion 162 is alongitudinally extending retainer 164 and 166. The rubber retainersserve to contain the ball member 130 of each card tray as it passesthrough channel 42 along the bottom of recess portion of 162 of thechannel member 160. A channel cover 168 shown in the open position asretained in channel member 160 and is spring biased against the bottomsurface of desk cover 52. The dotted lines in Figure 11 show channelcover 168 in the closed position in which it forms a smooth continuoussurface with the surface of desk cover 52. Channel cover 168 is shown indotted lines as being urged upwardly by a pair of springs 170. A pair oflongitudinally extending flanges 172 and 174 are provided on channelcover 168 for limiting the upward movement of the cover under theinfluence of spring 170. These latter flanges are adapted to abut theunder surface of desk cover 52.

Figure 13 is a cross-section showing a modified embodiment of thereceptacle 12 in the form of a removable drawer 112 with the details ofthe raceways omitted. The file unit top member 50 of drawer 112 is inabutment on each side with the channel-shaped member 52 forming the topor writing surface of the desk. Drawer 112 also includes the pair ofupstanding side panels 54 and 56 and a bottom plate 58. The centralsupport bar 26 extends completely across the drawer from side panels 54to side panels 56. Carried on the desk end sections 60 and 62 are fourlongitudinally extending drawer guide channels 64 adapted to receiveguide channels 66 carried by side panels 54 and 56. A plurality of.nylon rollers 68 are enclosed by drawer guide channels 66 and serve tosupport drawer 112 removably within the desk structure. Rollers 68 arein turn supported from channel members 64 by means of horizontal shafts7G.

The side walls of drawer 112 may take the form of Figures 7-10 havingattached to the inside surface of left and right-hand panels 54 and 56 aplurality of raceways 72 and 74identical in all respects to thosealready described. The drawer type embodiment of Figure 13 operates inthe same manner as previously set forth and further description isunwarranted.

Figures 14 and 15 show the end construction of a typical file tray 126.A plurality of cards as indicated in Figure 1 may be conventionallymounted from left to right in overlapping relation on the trays. Eachtray is provided with a visible index tab 34 of sufficient rigidity toform in conjunction with adjacent trays a substantially continuoussurface at the top of the file drawer. The tabs extend to a properheight such that a withdrawn tray resting fiat upon the other trays oron other trays and center support 26 is at the level of .the desksurface for ready handling and posting. If rather brief operation on asingle tray is desired it may be pulled up by means of its tab 34 andlaid flat over adjacent tray's without be ing moved to the left as shownin Figures 7 and 8. Index tabs 34 therefore serve to provide means forthe additional functions of gripping the trays for lifting from theraceways and as contact points for supporting a withdrawn tray in flatposting position. Index tabs 34 need not extend the complete length of atray but may be staggered over the surface of the receptacle to providethe desired support structure.

It is apparent from the disclosure that the present invention provides acompletely new filing system which combines all the features andadvantages in a single effective system fully capable of meeting allmodern filing pound fully mounted. The right hand end of each tray whenremoved is entirely free of the desk structure and may be moved in anydesired direction to improve the writing angle for the individualoperator. Alternatively ball 140 may be translated over recesses 150 tobring the tray to desired writing position on top of the stacked trays.Similarly the left hand end of the tray engaged in the horizontalchannel allows the tray to be moved toward or away from the operator asdesired. The tray can be laid in a flat position and is available forreference or posting. At the operators option the tray can be translatedalong the horizontal guide channel to auxiliary channel 42 communicatingtherewith and off to the left to a perfect writing angle.

The trays may be constructed of varying length and a 30 inch tray forexample can hold up to 80 file cards. The entire system requires lessthan 9 square feet when in desk form as shown with a capacity of over5,000 cards. The system makes it possible for an operator to have asmany as six trays plainly visible for posting or reference at one time.If so desired the tray may be disengaged from the left hand horizontalguide channel by a slight vertical pivot movement of the right hand endof the tray so that the ball member clears the overhang of the top ofthe desk thus freeing the ball from engagement with the entire unit.This optional feature makes it possible for the tray to be moved aboutindependently of the entire unit.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to strictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In a card reference file the improvement comprising a receptaclehaving front and rear sections, said receptacle including a front, backand two side walls, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced racewayspositioned along one side wall of both the front and rear sections ofsaid receptacle, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced raceways positionedalong the other side wall of both the front and rear sections of saidreceptacle, the raceways in said front section extending upwardly towardthe back of said receptacle, the raceways in said rear section extendingupwardly toward the front of said receptacle, said raceways in eachsection being in alignment and parallel to each other to slidablyreceive a plurality of trays in parallel stacked relation.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 including a horizontal channelextending lengthwise along the top edge of said receptacle adjacent theraceways on one side thereof, said raceways communicating with saidchannel along substantially the entire length thereof.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 in which said horizontal channelincludes longitudinally extending bottom, side and top portions defininga channel having an elongated opening on substantially only one sidethereof in communication with said raceways.

4. A reference file comprising support means including a flat writingsurface, a card tray receptacle in said support means having front andrear sections, said receptacle including a front, back and two sidewalls, a plurality of reference card trays supported edgewise in asemi-vertical position within said receptacle, a plurality of racewaysalong the inner surface of One side wall of both the front and rearsections of said receptacle, a plurality of raceways along the innersurface of the other side wall of both the front and rear sections ofsaid rements extending at least partially outwardly from each endthereof and adapted to be slidably received in cooperating raceways oneach side of 'said receptacle,

elongated means in communication with the upper ends of the raceways onone side of said receptacle for releasably supporting one end of saidcard trays and spaced means in communication with the raceways on theother side of said receptacle for freely supporting the other end ofsaid card trays.

5. A reference file as defined in claim 4 in which said card trayelements comprise a pair of pins fixedly secured to the lower edgeportion of each end of said trays, each pin terminating in asubstantially spherical portion for engagement in said raceways.

6. In a card reference file the improvement comprising a receptaclehaving front and rear sections, said receptacle including a front, backand two side walls, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced racewayspositioned along one side wall of both the front and rear sections ofsaid receptacle, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced raceways positionedalong the other side Wall of both the front and rear sections of saidreceptacle, the raceways in said front section extending upwardly towardthe back of said receptacle, the raceways in.said rear section extendingupwardly toward the front of said receptacle, said raceways in eachsection being in alignment to slidably receive a plurality of trays inparallel horizontally stacked relation, a horizontal channel extendinglengthwise along the top edge of'said receptacle adjacent the racewayson one side thereof, said raceways communicating with said channel alongsubstantially the entire length thereof, the upper ends of said racewayson the other side of said receptacle including spaced flange membersprojecting into said receptacle and having recessed top surfaces lyingsubstantially in the horizontal plane of said channel.

7. A reference file comprising support means including a flat writingsurface, a card tray receptacle in said support means having front andrear sections, said receptacle including a front, back and two sidewalls, a plurality of reference card trays supported edgewise in asemi-vertical position within said receptacle, a plurality of racewaysalong the inner surface of one side wall of both the front and rearsections of said receptacle, a plurality of raceways along the innersurface of the other side wall of both the front and rear sections ofsaid receptacle, the raceways in said front section extending upwardlytoward the rear of said receptacle, the raceways in said rear sectionextending upwardly toward the front of said receptacle, said card traysincluding elements extending at least partially outwardly from each endthereof and adapted to be slidably received in cooperating raceways oneach side of said receptacle, elongated means in communication with theupper ends of the raceways on one side of said receptacle for releasablysupporting one end of said card trays, spaced means in communicationwith the raceways on the other side of 'said receptacle for freelysupporting the other end of said card trays, said card tray elementscomprising a pair of pins fixedly secured to the lower edge portion ofeach end of said trays, each pin terminating in a substantiallyspherical portion for engagement in said raceways, said elongated meanscomprising a horizontal channel extending substantially the length ofsaid receptacle along which the spherical portion of a pin on one end ofsaid trays is adapted to be moved.

8. A reference file as defined in claim 7 in which said horizontalchannel is substantially closed on three sides retaining said trays insaid channel against disengagement therefrom in all directions exceptupwardly toward the center of said receptacle.

9. A reference file as defined in claim 8 in which said horizontalchannel is laterally spaced with respect to said upper ends of theraceways outwardly from the center of said receptacle.

10. A reference file as defined in claim 8 in which said spacedsupporting means on the other side of said receptacle compriseprojecting flanges extending inwardly toward the center of saidreceptacle having recesses in the top surfaces thereof for receiving thespherical portions of said pins.

11. A'reference file as defined in claim 10 including an auxiliarychannel in said writing surface for slidably retaining the sphericalportions of said pins, said auxiliary channel being in communicationwith said horizontal channel.

12. A reference file as defined in claim 11 in which said receptacle isremovable from said support means.

13. A card reference and posting file comprising a receptacle havingfront and rear sections, said receptacle including a front, back and twoside walls, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced raceways positionedalong one side wall of both the front and rear sections of saidreceptacle, a plurality of semi-vertical spaced raceways positionedalong the other side of said receptacle, the raceways in said frontsection extending upwardly toward the back of said receptacle, theraceways in said rear section extending upwardly toward the front ofsaid receptacle, said raceways in each section being in alignment andparallel to each other, a plurality of trays carrying referenceinformation items slidably received in parallel horizontally stackedrelation in each section of said receptacle, said reference informationitems being carried on the forward face of said trays in said frontsection and on the back face of said trays in said rear section.

14. A card reference and posting file as defined in claim 13 in whichsaid trays include laterally extending projections on each end thereofreceived in said raceways.

15. A card reference and posting file comprising a receptacle havingfront and rear sections, a plurality of upwardly extending racewayspositioned along the opposite side of said receptacle, said racewaysbeing in alignment to slidably receix e a plurality of trays in stackedrelation, a horizontal channel extending lengthwise along the top edgeof said receptacle adjacent the raceways on one side thereof, saidchannel being spaced outwardly of said adjacent raceways but incommunication therewith, the upper ends of said raceways on the otherside of said receptacle including spaced flange members projecting intosaid receptacle and having recessed top surfaces lying substantially inthe horizontal plane of said channel.

16. A card reference and posting file according to claim 15 in whichsaid horizontal channel includes longitudinally extending bottom, sideand top surfaces de fining a channel having an elongated openingsubstantially on only one side thereof in communication with saidraceways whereby a tray may be removed from only said one side of saidchannel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS967,549 Peterson Aug. 16, 1910 1,254,916 Lee Jan. 29, 1918 1,347,658Proudfit July 27, 1920 1,820,003 Hutchings Aug. 18, 1931 2,489,476Blodget Nov. 29, 1949 2,706,141 Layer Apr. 12, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No" 2 9I6 O9'I March .21 I961Terence E, Devine It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected belowe Column. 5 line 49 for -"WriMixing readwriting column 1O line 11 after jside insert well of both the front andrear sections line 29 for "side" read me sides Signed and sealed thie22nd day of August 1961.,

SEA L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

